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Agios Georgios Gorgolainis (St. George the Swift) Monastery

The Holy Monastery of Saint George Gorgolainis, one of the most historic monasteries on Crete, was founded by Archpriest Sylvester in the 13th century, while the single-space arch-covered church dedicated to Saint George was erected in 1627. During the 20th century, an aisle was added to the catholicon, which is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Also […]

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Metamorphosis (Transfiguration) Monastery

The monastery was founded in 1615. The catholicon of the monastery is a single-space arch-covered church, its chancel screen featuring a painting of Adam and Eve, one the one side at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and on the other during their expulsion from the paradise.

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Kardamoutsa Monastery

The monastery is dedicated to the True Cross. It was founded in the late 16th century and belongs to the citadel style. The monastery features stone sculptures, capitals and sculpted troughs that prove its peak during the 17th century. The catholicon dates back to 1580. It is situated at the centre of the monastery and […]

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Holy Monastery of Areti

The monastery was founded at the end of the 16th century by Markos Papadopoulos, who also bequeathed it great wealth, enough for the upkeep of twelve monks. Notary documents confirm its peak during the 17th century as they mention the multitude of its transactions with other monasteries or individuals. Despite its destruction by the Turks […]

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Holy Monastery of Kera – Kardiotissa

The foundation and the history of the monastery, the first mention of which dates to 1333 is inextricably linked to the wonderworking icon of the All-Holy Virgin the Kardiotissa [the type of icon where the Virgin holds Christ in her arms above her heart], which according to tradition was painted by St. Lazaros, a monk […]

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Agioi Apostoloi (Holy Apostles) (Lithines)

Built in 1415, this is a single-space arch-covered church with numerous murals. Its depictions of the Christological cycle (particularly elaborate, depicting a total of 17 scenes) and the Second Coming are most impressive.

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Agios Athanassios (St. Athanassius) (Lithines)

This is 15th-century, single-space arch-covered church. A narthex was added to it in 1603 in order to house the family crypt of Georgios Vlachos, a nobleman.

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All – Holy Virgin at Lithines

A twin-naved church was added to the south side of the single-nave church of the All-Holy Virgin, in the middle of the settlement, during the 1950s. The wall ­painting decoration of the old aisle, of the 14th century, has scenes from the Christological and Marian cycles with the scene of the Second Coming occupying the […]

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Saint George at Voila

The twin-naved church, dedicated to St. George and to St. John is located southeast of the settlement of Chandras and next to the ruined settlement of Voilas which is dominated by the magnificent medieval tower. The architectural type of the church has emerged as a result of the successive interpolations to the original, single-nave church, […]

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Metamorfosi tou Christou (Transfiguration of Christ) (Chandras)

A large, single-space church, it dates back to the mid-15th century and quite likely once served as catholicon to a monastery than no longer survives. The church is extensively decorated and its murals survive in relatively good condition. Worthy of note are the depictions of the Twelve Great Feasts and of scenes of the Second […]

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